Hearing Islam The Sounds of a Global Religious Tradition

Hearing Islam introduces the global religious tradition of Islam through its rich history of sounds and music.

The book explores how the centrality of sonic practices and experiences within Islamic traditions stems largely from the orality of the Qur?an and the importance of recitation, while arguing that sound can provide a productive point of entry to human cultures in general. Its tripartite structure guides the reader through the foundations of Islamic traditions and sounds; theoretical frameworks of orality, listening, and deafness; and some of the major types of sonic practices and genres related to Islam, such as chanting the Islamic poetic tradition, South Asian qawwali, and hip-hop.

This cutting-edge textbook is the go-to volume for students of Islam and sound, Islamic studies, religion and sound, and the practice of Islam.

Introduction Part I. Foundations 1. The Recitation of the Qurʾan 2. Calling the Faithful to Prayer 3. Islam and Music Part II. Frameworks 4. Orality: Islam as it is Spoken 5. Listening in Islam 6. Deafness Part III. Genres 7. Chanting and Singing Islam 8. Mysticism and Music 9. Islam and Hip-Hop Conclusion Glossary Index

Lauren E. Osborne is Associate Professor of Religion at Whitman College, USA.